Digital Commons Network^™

Forecasting Crashes, Credit Card Default, And Imputation Analysis On Missing Values By The Use Of Neural Networks, Jazmin Quezada

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

A neural network is a system of hardware and/or software patterned after the operation of neurons in the human brain. Neural networks,- also called Artificial Neural Networks - are a variety of deep learning technology, which also falls under the umbrella of artificial intelligence, or AI. Recent studies shows that Artificial Neural Network has the highest coefficient of determination (i.e. measure to assess how well a model explains and predicts future outcomes.) in comparison to the K-nearest neighbor classifiers, logistic regression, discriminant analysis, naive Bayesian classifier, and classification trees. In this work, the theoretical description of the neural network methodology …

Project Access: High School Student Learning Of Academic Vocabulary In The Rio Grande Valley, Angela M. Chapman

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

Academic language can be a major obstacle to students’ learning in science and math. For English Language Learners this challenge can be even greater. One reason this challenge prevails is the persistent deficit perspective toward students whose native language is Spanish. One way to address this issue is to leverage students’ knowledge of Spanish and personal culture to develop a deeper understanding of academic vocabulary in high school math and science courses. Project ACCESS (Acquisition of Curricular Content for Exceptional Success in STEM) seeks to challenge the assumptions and biases toward students in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) who have …

A Quantitative Assessment Of Trace Metals In Subsurface Soils And Groundwater In Agricultural Fields Of El Paso, Texas, Emmanuel Sosa

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Intensive agricultural practices such as irrigation, application of pesticides and the use of fertilizers, as well as contamination from urban settings and industrial activities contribute to the input of trace metals onto soils and groundwater. Consequentially, biological uptake and accumulation concentrate these toxic metals in fruits, vegetables, and grains that will be used for human consumption. In southern New Mexico and western Texas, cropland is developed along the Rio Grande valley. These farmers are concerned about the quality of their irrigation water and soils in order to produce adequate crops and maintain healthy soils to maximize revenue. To evaluate loading …

Understanding Diverse Bilingual Learners: The Need For A Transdisciplinary Lens, Amy Weimer, Mario Gil, J. Joy Esquierdo

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

The chapter synthesizes findings from diverse disciplinary perspectives to make the case that we need a new lens to better serve the diversity of bilingual learners. Drawing upon theories and findings from studies by educators, child developmentalists, and neuroscientists, but moving beyond any one disciplinary perspective, the authors aim to create a unity of new knowledge developed of theories from across disciplines. This approach is exactly what is needed to address the complexity of factors surrounding bilingual learners. Taking a transdisciplinary approach will allow us to move closer toward an understanding of the many factors affecting bilingual children and families, …

Restrictive Ventilatory Patterns In Residents Of Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Christine R. Kovach, Murad H. Taani, Crystal-Rae Waltons, Sheryl Kelber, Irwin Margolis

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Restrictive ventilatory patterns (RVPs) in older adults may contribute to morbidity and decreased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to begin to understand (a) the number of older adults residing in Continuing Care Retirement Communities with RVPs, (b) factors associated with RVP, and (c) whether RVP is associated with ambulation level. This descriptive study was conducted at three sites. RVP was evident in 34 of the 65 participants (52%), and 33 (97%) of these were either moderate or severely restricted. Dementia, dyspnea, kyphosis, and lower muscle strength were significant predictors of RVP. Eighty percent of the nonambulatory …

Creating A Task-Analysis For Teaching Emergent Literacy Skills To Students With Autism, Joshua N. Baker, Christopher Rivera, Stephanie M. Devine, Lee Mason

Elementary & Special Education: Faculty Publications

This article provides six fundamental steps for using a task analysis to teach emergent literacy skills to young learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Compared to general education peers, students with ASD score lower on reading measures and often have difficulty acquiring literacy skills via the instruction methods used in typical classrooms. An effective instructional technique for many students with ASD is systematic instruction via task analysis. Task analysis may be a useful tool for teachers of students with ASD to build literacy skills by aligning instruction in missing skills to the curriculum standards. The steps to consider when using …

Determinants Of Self-Efficacy Among Individuals Who Are Hard-Of-Hearing, Sergio Cuevas, Roy K. Chen, Chia Vang, Shawn P. Saladin

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

Self-efficacy plays an important role in their lives of the estimated 48 million Americans who report having some degree of hearing impairment, helping them navigate through a myriad of communication challenges. The purpose of the present study was to assess the levels of self-efficacy in this disability group by examining an array of social, psychological, spiritual, disability, and demographic variables. A total of 114 persons who identified as hard-of-hearing took part in an online survey. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to answer the research question. The proposed regression model explained 24.7% of variance in self-efficacy among individuals who …

Redux: Empirical Validation Of Medical Equipment Replacement Schedules In Life Care Plans, Irmo Marini, Chia Vang, Danielle Leigh Antol, Elaine M. Mora, Paola Quijano, Rigel Macarena Pinon, Sergio Cuevas

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

The present study sought to update and validate the replacement schedules of various durable medical equipment (DME) and assistive technology (AT) commonly cited in life care plans. For life care plans used in litigation, the 1993 Daubert decision, which placed more onus on testifying experts to rely upon empirically-supported and generally accepted literature in their field, increased the need for evidence-based research. In this study, 127 sales representatives and equipment repairers across the United States were contacted to participate in a survey to explore whether replacement values found in similar research conducted in 2005, had significantly changed. Frequency data were …

Increasing The Use Of Evidence-Based Practices In Counseling: Cbt As A Supervision Modality In Private Practice Mental Health, Jerome Fischer, Diana M. Mendez

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

This paper demonstrates how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) supervision can be applied in a private practice mental health setting. The CBT model of supervision is a good fit for a private practice mental health setting because of its action orientation and empirical grounding. The CBT modality meets the challenges of a private practice mental health setting since it is appropriate for the types of issues presented by clients in counseling. While CBT is an effective therapy to use for supervision and counseling in a private practice mental health setting, it is recommended that mental health practitioners expand their professional identity …

Variations In Individualistic And Collectivistic Cultural Orientation And The Protective Factors That Contribute To Resilience: Comparisons From Jamaica, Rwanda, And The United States, Stacey Nicely

Dissertations

Problem

Despite the advancement in resilience research, and although mental health professionals are encouraged to become culturally competent, it is still unclear how I/C cultural orientation influence various protective factors that contribute to resilience. Individualists emphasize independence and autonomy while collectivists emphasize interdependence and in-group consensus (Hofstede, 1991; Markus & Kitayama, 1991). Therefore, it is expected that the protective factors that promote resilience will also operate differently for individualists as compared to collectivists (Triandis, 1995). Yet, mental health practitioners have very little information available to them to guide their intervention efforts with individualists and collectivists. When practitioners work with individuals …

The Influence Of Pornography Consumption, Religiosity, And Family Sexual Communication On Emerging Adults' Engagement In Hookup Culture In The United States, Angie Powels Horner

Dissertations

Purpose

The primary purpose of the current research was to understand the influence of considerable social-cultural factors, including pornography consumption, religiosity, and family sexual communication, on the sexual values and behaviors of the emerging adult population. Particularly, how pornography consumption, religiosity, and family sexual communication influence emerging adult engagement in hookup culture was examined.

Method

Participants completed several surveys, which measured participants’ pornography consumption, personal religiosity, family sexual communication, and engagement in hookup culture. A path analysis model was used to analyze the relationship between the proposed variables.

Results

The path analysis model indicated that the initial model was a …

Islam, Christianity, Traditional Religions And Power Politics In Northern Nigeria Since Pre-Islamic Period, Emmanuel M. Abar

Dissertations

Problem

Currently in Northern Nigeria, religious interaction among the three major religious traditions, Islam, Christianity, and African Traditional Religion, is marred by violent religious conflicts. Also, competing concepts of religious legitimacy, which appeal to the historical heritage of Nigeria, are often used to validate and justify the violation of religious freedom. Does the current state of religious interaction among the various religious groups reflect the true heritage of religious interaction in Northern Nigeria? Or is it possible that the history of the interaction between African Traditional Religions, Islam, and Christianity in the past might actually be a heritage that points …

School Principal's Leadership Style And Teacher's Self-Efficacy In High And Low Achieving Schools In Chikankata, Zambia, Pardon Mwansa

Dissertations

Problem and Purpose

Much research has been done in past years on the topic of student achievement, with most of those studies focusing on factors that contribute to student achievement. Little, or no research has been done, especially in the country of Zambia, that has focused on the relationship between leadership style, teacher self-efficacy, and the extent to which these constructs impact student achievement. This study explored the school principals' leadership style, teacher self-efficacy, and the extent to which these factors contribute to student achievement in Chikankata District, Zambia. The Ministry of Education in Zambia and other educators, especially those …

Adventist Healthcare: A Qualitative Study Of 19th Century Founding Governing Principles In 21st Century Adventist Hospitals, Cesiah Yareth Pimentel Melendez

Dissertations

Problem and Purpose

Founding values and principles can help organizations stay focused on fulfilling their mission. This is especially true in faith-based organizations that seek to continue their founding principles as a governing commitment to their core identity. This study identified Adventist healthcare founding principles in Ellen G. White's early health visions and explored how Adventist healthcare leaders perceived these principles as governing principles applied to current Adventist healthcare practices.

Conceptual Framework and Research Design

Two metaphors and three areas of literature review guided my approach of this qualitative study of Adventist healthcare founding principles. My first metaphor of DNA …

Journey With Autism: Successful Educational And Social Interventions From A Single Case Study, Kwame M. De Jonge-Moore

Dissertations

Problem

Statistics indicate that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is on the increase in America and worldwide (Xu, Strathearn, Liu, & Bao, 2018; Baio et al., 2018). Autism spectrum disorder can impair an individual’s ability to engage in neurotypical behavior, which has the potential to increase their vulnerability to being shunned and bullied. This makes autism a major societal concern with significant costs to the individual, their family, private/public health insurance, state financial aid programs, and to the nation. This present study was undertaken to determine, in the opinions of those connected to the case, whether the interventions engaged in this …

The Mortality Response To Absolute And Relative Temperature Extremes, Scott C. Sheridan, Cameron C. Lee, Michael J. Allen

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

While the impact of absolute extreme temperatures on human health has been amply studied, far less attention has been given to relative temperature extremes, that is, events that are highly unusual for the time of year but not necessarily extreme relative to a location's overall climate. In this research, we use a recently defined extreme temperature event metric to define absolute extreme heat events (EHE) and extreme cold events (ECE) using absolute thresholds, and relative extreme heat events (REHE) and relative extreme cold events (RECE) using relative thresholds. All-cause mortality outcomes using a distributed lag nonlinear model are evaluated for …

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2019), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

This is issue contains the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station 2018 Annual Report, and the SDSU Extension 2018 Annual Report.

[Page] 2 Setting Into role as Dean
[Page] 4 Raven Precision Ag Center Groundbreaking Ceremony
[Page] 10 Collaborating for Research-Based Solutions
[Page] 12 From the SDSU Extension Director
[Page] 14 Empowering South Dakotans Through Training and Certifications
[Page] 18 Mental Health and Opioid Education
[Page] 21 Science of Agriculture
[Page] 23 Community Gardens Bring Hope to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
[Page] 26 Energize! Conference
[Page} 28 Disaster Preparedness Training
[Page] 30 Bush Foundation Change Network
[Page] 32 SDSU to Participate …

Papanicolaou Test Status Among Inner-City Adolescent Girls In Accra, Ghana, Collins Kwesi Asamoa-Afriyie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cervical cancer is an emerging public health problem in developing countries. Globally, it is the 3rd most common malignancy in women after breast and colorectal cancers and 4th most frequent cancer in women, with an estimated 570,000 new cases and 311,000 deaths in 2018. Cervical cancer screening in the developed countries is credited with the reductions in cervical cancer morbidity and mortality during the last 50 years. However, nearly 90% of cervical cancer deaths occur in less developed countries. Ghana has a cervical cancer rate of 26.4%. Further, it is the highest cancer incidence faced among women 25 to 44 …

Refractory Depression – Cost-Effectiveness Of Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Findings Of Economic Evaluation Of Reframed Trial, James Shearer, Thomas R. Lynch, Rampaul Chamba, Susan Clarke, Roelie J. Hempel, David G. Kingdon, Heather O'Mahen, Bob Remington, Sophie C. Rushbrook, Ian T. Russell, Maggie Stanton, Michaela Swales, Alan Watkins, Ben Whalley, Sarah Byford

School of Psychology

BackgroundRefractory depression is a major contributor to the economic burden of depression. Radically open dialectical behaviour therapy (RO DBT) is an unevaluated new treatment targeting overcontrolled personality, common in refractory depression, but it is not yet known whether the additional expense of RO DBT is good value for money.AimsTo estimate the cost-effectiveness of RO DBT plus treatment as usual (TAU) compared with TAU alone in people with refractory depression (trial registration: ISRCTN85784627).MethodWe undertook a cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a randomised trial evaluating RO DBT plus TAU versus TAU alone for refractory depression in three UK secondary care centres. Our economic evaluation, …

Determinants Of Maternal Health Care Utilization In The Philippines: Implications On Information Dissemination Strategies, Nancy M. Landicho

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

From 2000 to 2017, maternal deaths in the Philippines considerably decreased. With COVID-19, the mechanisms to ensure safe pregnancy and childbirth for mothers have been greatly challenged. To find possible means by which women can access health care services remotely, the study looked into the factors affecting Filipino women’s utilization of maternal health care services using the 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey. Place of residence and employment status significantly affect the frequency by which women read newspaper or magazine, listen to the radio, and access the internet. Wealth status is the sole socio-demographic characteristic that has significant relationship …

Production And Marketing Of Indigenous Cash Crops: The Experience Of Women Farmer-Entrepreneurs In Mountain Province, Philippines, Joyce D. Cuyangoan

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This study focused on the production factors and marketing mix of five indigenous cash crops cultivated by 67 women farmer- entrepreneurs in the municipalities of Tadian and Lower Bauko in Mountain Province, Philippines. The study used descriptive statistics and applied profit analysis in the analysis of its findings. Results of this study show that the factors that limit the respondents’ production are limited access to transportation, rainfed irrigation, and limited access to agricultural inputs and loans. In marketing their produce, it was found that the respondents have limited knowledge on processing, packaging, labeling, promoting and financial record keeping. They can …

The Practice Of Good Governance In The Two Cities Of Negros Oriental, Philippines, Meljun R. Banogon

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This descriptive comparative research aimed to assess and compare how the cities of Bais and Dumaguete in Negros Oriental implemented the projects made possible through the Seal of Good Local Governance Award. The key methods used were in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with the local government officials and the project beneficiaries. The performance status showed the core dimensions of good local governance. It was found that the two cities used the Performance Challenge Fund to design projects for their respective coastal barangays. These became an opportunity for the two cities to improve and protect the lives of the people …

Using Foi To Explore Governance And Decision-Making In The Uk, M Sheaff

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Governance Through Diversion In Neoliberal Times And The Possibilities For Transformative Social Justice, Patricia Gray, Roger Smith

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Over the last decade, the dramatic increase in the number of young people diverted from formal processing through the youth justice system in England and Wales, and the equally sharp drop in the rate of youth custody suggest that the neoliberal formula for the penal governance of young people who offend has been undergoing significant reshaping. This article draws on research which interrogates the changes that are currently taking place, particularly the proliferation of “out of court” community-based measures of diversion and offense resolution, to develop a more fine-tuned conceptualization of the complexities of neoliberal youth penality. We base our …

Professional Knowledges For Early Childhood Education And Care, Vjg Campbell Barr

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This article proposes reconceptualizing professional knowledge in early childhood education and care (ECEC) as knowledges, incorporating phronesis (practical wisdom), techne (skill), and episteme (pure knowledge). Conceptualizing professional knowledge in the plural broadens perspectives on the professional knowledge base and opens up a discussion of how different forms of knowledge are acquired. Drawing on Bernstein, the author identifies ECEC as requiring horizontal and vertical constructs of knowledge that have different structures and legitimization processes. While phronesis is presented as being a part of ECEC professional knowledges, the discussion explores the difficulties in defining phronesis, because of the variable ways it is …

Creative Recovery: Mapping Refugees' Memories Of Home As Heritage, Sana Murrani, Ioana Popovici

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants who fled conflict and other adversities in their homelands are facing challenging times here in the UK as they are trying to integrate and build a new life. Being uprooted from one’s home and community is not easy - especially when one is faced with new struggles in life around navigating the UK Migration System, searching for adequate housing, learning a new language and most importantly, defining one’s existence again in this world amongst other concerns.Creative Recovery focuses on the narrative that the media misses from those who show resilience and courage as they fled …

Insights Into Interactions Between Vanadium (V) Bio-Reduction And Pentachlorophenol Dechlorination In Synthetic Groundwater, Baogang Zhang, Yutong Cheng, Jiaxin Shi, Xuan Xing, Yuling Zhu, Nan Xu, Jianxin Xia, Alistair G.L. Borthwick

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Is Criminal Sentencing Influenced By Type Of Disorder?, Christopher Koch, Tessa Jones

Faculty Publications - Psychology Department

Differences in sentencing due to disorder and gender were examined. Four scenarios were randomly presented for each disorder type. Participants indicated the sentence length for each scenario and whether they would parole the individual. Men with personality disorders received longer sentences while women with psychotic or neurological disorders received longer sentences. Perpetrators with personality disorders were less likely to be paroled than those with a psychotic or neurological disorder. Parole decisions about psychotic women were made faster than any other condition.

Head Injuries And The Hearing Screening Inventory, Christopher Koch, Abigail Anderson

Faculty Publications - Psychology Department

Head trauma can lead to problems with the ear and auditory pathway. These problems can involve tympanic membrane perforation, fragments in squamous epithelium, damage to the ossicles, or ischemia of the cochlear nerve. It is common for behavioral checklists, for concussion or head injuries, to include an item about hearing difficulty. In the present study, 152 introductory psychology students completed a survey in which they indicated if they had ever had a concussion or sustained a head injury. Approximately one-third (35.53%) of the sample had a history of head trauma. The Hearing Screening Inventory was also part of the survey. …

The Impact Of Olfactory Cues On Attention: The Case Of Reverse Stroop Interference, Jonathan K. Ham, Christopher Koch

Faculty Publications - Psychology Department

Ham and Koch (2019) found that an odorant could influence interference on a modified Stroop task. This study was conducted to examine the impact of olfactory cues on reverse Stroop interference. Across three experiments, participants completed a modified reverseStroop task in which they identified a word (strawberry, lime, lemon) in different color fonts (red, green, yellow). Although the words were fruit names instead of color names, each word had some degree of association with a particular color (e.g., lime and green). In Experiment 1, congruent and incongruent trials were presented without an odorant. No differences were found between congruent and …